‘Will obey the government’ - PCB chief Najam Sethi on traveling to India for 2023 ODI World Cup

The long saga between arch-rivals India and Pakistan over the hosting rights on the Asia Cup 2023 and the ODI World Cup 2023 continues. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has said that the board will follow national government's advice on the matter.

Both the apex boards, BCCI and PCB, have been in a tussle after BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that the Asia Cup 2023 would take place in a neutral venue instead of Pakistan. Following that, the then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja stated that Pakistan would boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup next year in India should they not travel for the Asia Cup to Pakistan. 

“We will obey whatever the government would suggest to us and we will seek the government's advice when the time arrives, similar to the last time I was the chairman. As far as the Asia Cup is concerned, I will go to ACC (Asian Cricket Council) and see what the situation is and we'll take a decision that is in the better interest of the game. We have to see what the other board's position is, we have to play cricket with everyone, and we will not take any step which can cause any isolation,” the PCB chief was quoted by India TV.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team is currently in the midst of an overhaul wherein multiple reports have emerged over Babar Azam getting stripped off from the captaincy to the changes in coaching management. While not all of it may be true, Sethi confirmed contacting Mickey Arthur to return as the coach of the national side. 

The former Proteas cricketer coached the team from 2016 to 2019 and the side won the Champions Trophy 2017 during his tenure. An official confirmation is yet to be made by the apex board over the change in management.